About a week ago, the Iberia Parish School System hosted a recital for their gifted and talented music students in the New Iberia Senior High School auditorium. For a few hours, families and friends of the program were treated to some amazing performances by students including solo singing, group singing, instrument solos and even a few small band numbers. Those performing included students from elementary grades all the way to seniors in high school. It was indeed a treat!

What was so amazing was the inspiring performances. There was no doubt each performer had put lots of work into their recital pieces and absolutely possessed the gift of music. While taking pictures, I had the chance to visit with several students. One of those students was Myla Bonin who has been in the program since the 6th grade. Her family has a deep love for music, so it was only natural that she would start her journey in music at nine years old. Her primary instrument is the piano. She has been playing classical piano for ten years.

Being in the Talent program has meant the world to her. When she began, she had stage fright, but the program would provide her with opportunities and relationships to become the complete opposite. She displayed a captivating stage presence when I saw her perform. It was wonderful talking with her. What has stood out in our conversations is her joyful and bubbly personality. The little girl who was shy has become a confident woman who serves as the “Voice of NISH,” in addition to wearing many other hats. Her resume of achievements is long, but a few highlights are she serves a student body president, was student of the year and is a straight A student who has already earned many college credits through dual enrollment.

Her passion for music was obvious as we spoke. Through the Talent program she would be exposed to some amazing teachers, who would inspire her to expand her musical talents through learning to play the ukulele and acoustic guitar in addition to singing. She performed several pieces for the recital showing her multifaceted talent as a musician and singer. When asked why she believes the program is important, she shared it helped develop her self-confidence, gave her a place to express her gifts and form some amazing friendships along the way. Being a part of the Talent program has helped her to see she is special and has a gift to share that inspires others. There is no doubt what she has gained from her pursuits of music has influenced her other successes and areas of her life.

In our conversation Myla said, “Music is the world’s only universal language.” She spoke of experiences she had to interact with musicians from other parts of the world through Festival International. Though she could not understand the lyrics, there was a special connection she felt through the rhythm and melody that moved her soul. Myla is indeed a special woman who lives with purpose to help others through her music gifts and her future pursuits. Her family has had to deal with medical challenges requiring some to travel to other parts of the country to receive treatment. This has inspired her to pursue education in medicine or medical research. In the fall she will be attending Tulane University to major in molecular biology.

Myla is one of many students who have inspiring stories to share about why the Talent program offered by Iberia Parish is so important.

I had a chance to speak with Paul Schexnayder, a famous artist who lives and works in New Iberia. One of the most amazing things about Paul is he is color blind, though when you look at his work that is hard to believe. Paul’s art is off-the-charts incredible.

In 1999, Melissa Bonin, leading contemporary artist from New Iberia, and Judy Huckabey, master gift teacher in Iberia Parish, designed a talent program for exceptionally talented children in Iberia Parish. It all started in the visual arts though as the years rolled along music and theatre would be added. In 2000 they would bring Paul on staff. Before this, he had been teaching art at ESA when not at work in his studio. I asked Paul about the process of a child getting into the program. He explained a potential student must first be referred by a teacher or parent. Afterwards they complete some paperwork and submit a portfolio, which in the case of music or theatre could be a tape of their music or acting. From here they are evaluated by state testers. Students can enter the program as early as the first grade.

At some point in our conversation, I asked him to give me an overview of what goes on in a typical year prior to the end of the year showcase. He explained the program picks a theme for the year. This year the theme was money. Teachers work with students to create what they will exhibit or perform at the end of the year showcase. Some students enter competitions outside of the Talent program. This year 7th grade students from Delcambre won the competition for a feature cover put on by Acadiana Lifestyle. The theme for their cover art was money. Myla mentioned in her interview she had competed in the district piano rally several times.

As our interview ended, I asked Paul why he feels the Talent program is important and finally what drew him to the program. First on his list was that the program helps kids find what they are good at. Paul talked about how students often find their purpose or gift. He mentioned he knows students whose primary reason for staying in school is because of the “Talent” program. Some students “natural talents” are not always academic or athletic, but artistic.

When talking about what drew him to the program, Paul said it was his “dream” job as an artist. Each day is something new to him, as he and other teachers in the program, travel to different schools each day serving the young men and women of New Iberia. He stated he feels like an artist teaching and not someone simply teaching art. For him, being a part of the Talent program is how he shares his legacy with younger minds. As a teacher, he gets to share his love for art and experience from being a professional artist with those who may one day become professional artists themselves. Finally, Paul mentioned those hired to work in this program are often professional artists, musicians or actors who get to pass on real life experience from a life devoted to becoming a master in their respective fields.

As I sat at the computer processing photos and remembering the incredible experience I had watching the recital, my mind drifted to the unsung hero in this program, the teacher. Parents and visitors applauded the phenomenal performances put on by students while the three teachers who made this possible worked behind the scenes. One of the teachers is my very own sister, Nanette Sorrel. Before I say more, I will admit I’m extremely biased when it comes to her. She is my oldest sibling and a woman I admire and love. What she brings to the program, like Paul, and the other teachers, is a lifetime of experience starting from when she was a young girl taking Piano for the first time. Nanette has been playing Piano for over fifty years.

Like Myla, she learned how to play several instruments in her lifetime. In high school she plays multiple instruments for the band and was the band president. But of all the instrument she learned, Piano was her life’s calling as an artist. Nanette would graduate with honors and receive a scholarship from the University of Southwestern Louisiana for Piano. Early in her life she began raising a family. Of the things I admire about her, is her devotion to her kids and grandkids. She is a Godly woman who has raised an amazing family. In the background of her busy life was countless hours of piano practice and learning incredibly difficult pieces. Somewhere through the years she would even find time to help play piano at church.

At the age of 57 she enrolled back into college to complete her degree. After years of balancing her duties as a mother, wife, and grandmother she would set out on a course to complete what she had begun when her family began. About five years later she graduated from ULL. Along the way she acquired her credentials as a Nationally Certified Piano Instructor. This was an incredibly challenging process. Right out of school God would bless her with the opportunity of a lifetime. She was hired as a music instructor in the Talent program. Nanette is an exceptional teacher. She has been teaching Piano privately for a very long time. Kids love her! There is a beautiful story behind each of the teachers, like Paul and Nanette, working tirelessly to inspire and develop Iberia Parish Talent students.

I hope each reader takes away how important arts education is to our local community, state, and country. Yes, I agree with Myla about art being a “universal language.” It is through the language we share love. We are helping young minds find their voice as storytellers through art of many forms. Art programs allow students to discover their unique gifts, and in turn become their best version of themselves. From this they give to the world around them hope.

Since I was nine years old, I have been playing acoustic guitar and somewhere along the line found a love I didn’t know I had for photography. In my life I have suffered with crippling anxiety. Often it has been those private times playing the guitar or taking pictures that help me find relief and focus. Through my gifts as an artist, I would gain self-confidence and focus. I would learn that growing required a healthy approach to processing criticism. My artistic talents would help me discover I have a voice and something worth sharing, be it through a music score, photography or writing.

I’m almost sixty and learning more than I ever imagined. Much of my time is now devoted to mastering photography. My life was spent as a science instructor. To be honest, I never saw myself as a photographer or writer, but here I am. What has been a common theme running through my life is that God gifted me with a creative spirit. Now with less time ahead than behind me I am discovering a new purpose for my life as a storyteller.

Without art, music, and theater in school I may have never discovered my creative spirit. So, I close with sharing a little about myself, not to bring focus to me, but to put exclamation point behind how vital it is we support the funding of art education and Talent programs, like those found in Iberia Parish.

John Sorrel, a New Iberia native, is the owner of Wonders of Light, LLC. Read more of his thoughts here.